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http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?n...d=482259&rfi=6

MCA graduate Jon Skinner to take part in annual All-Star football game

By Randy Maynard , Sports Writer 07/21/2004

randy_m@newsitem.com
HERSHEY — At a gargantuan 6-foot-5, 295 pounds, offensive lineman and Mount Carmel Area graduate Jon Skinner is big.
The line he’ll play on Saturday night is big.
He’s signed and ready to play this fall for the Ohio State Buckeyes, one of the nation’s biggest Division I college football programs.
Those things being said, you can’t help but chuckle at this — the aptly-named “Big” 33 Football Classic — being Skinner’s final curtain call in what’s been an outstanding high school career.
The contest, once again staged at HersheyPark Stadium, is to be played Saturday at 7 p.m. Soon after, he’ll officially leave the coal region for Columbus having helped the Red Tornadoes to two PIAA Class AA state titles (2000, 2002).
“It’s a great time out here. We’re having a lot of fun,” said Skinner Tuesday from Hershey High School, site of the Pennsylvania team’s camp.
“Everybody wants to get (to the stadium) and, instead of hitting each other, hitting some Ohio kids.”
Played annually, the Big 33 pits graduated senior All-Stars from Pennsylvania against those from Ohio. Ohio is coming off a 38-7 win a year ago, a victory that snapped a three-game Pennsylvania winning streak.
Skinner was added to the Pennsylvania roster in March.
“I just want to give these kids a chance to win,” said John Harris High (Harrisburg) coach George Chaump, who will guide the Keystone State. “If you work hard and do the right things, you’ll have a chance.”
Skinner formally signed to play for the Buckeyes in February and was in Columbus as recently as last week for conditioning. He is to leave again Aug. 3 for orientation, with the reporting date for preseason camp being Aug. 9.
“It’s a great program, and coach (Jim Tressel) is a great guy,” said Skinner. “They always go to Bowl games every year and are competing for a national title.”
Skinner will begin his Ohio State education undeclared, although he said he’ll probably lean toward a business major. That decision will be made in time, as will Tressel’s regarding Skinner’s playing time.
“We won’t really know about that until camp starts and everybody has pads on,” said Skinner. “There are a lot of good players there.
“I didn’t really learn too much about their offense. I was only out there a week. But being a lineman, you don’t really worry too much about it. You just go out there, try to block and help your team out.”
That’s pretty much the philosophy for Saturday, too.
“Jon’s a good football player,” said Chaump, who got his first head coaching job at Shamokin in 1961.
Skinner will notice a difference when he takes the field Saturday. His size will simply be ordniary rather than an oddity.
Pennsylvania’s offensive line will average 289 pounds, music to any quarterback’s ears. It’ll need every ounce of it, as it goes against an Ohio defensive unit that weighs in at a 281-pound average.
Protection, not to mention opening up holes for the running backs, will be key, at least if there’s to be the shootout that some expect.
“We’ll play a man-to-man, standard defense,” said Chaump. “Both sides will have a great attack.
“It should be, if things go right, a real high-scoring game, a lot of points. I think that’s what fans like. It’s just like a baseball game, you want to see a lot of home runs and a lot of hits. Nobody likes to see shutouts.”
Just who Skinner will be protecting isn’t immediately known. Pennsylvania has two quarterbacks on its roster: Michigan-bound Chad Henne (Wilson High School) and Penn State recruit Anthony Morelli (Penn Hills).
“Maybe we’ll flip a coin Saturday night,” said Chaump.
Whoever it is, there’s not much doubt he’ll be protected.
“We like Jon. He’s doing a good job and we’re very happy with him,” said Chaump. “He’s a great young man. We’re glad to have him.
“I’m certainly getting a kick out of coaching (the players). I really am. They’re all starters. They’ll all play ... it’s just a matter of when we put them in.”
Chaump was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame on Nov. 15. Also going in was Mount Carmel Area graduate Dr. Mike Diminick.